Hot stamp printing machine



July 4, 1933. E. T, KNITTER 1,916,575

HOT STAMP PRINTING MACHINE Filed sept. s, 1930 5 sheets-sheet 1 July 4,1933. E. T. KNITTER HOTv STAMP PRINT1NG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedsept. 8, 1930 IN VEN TOR. E/ MER T /v/Trfe.

BY Y Co.

ATTORNEYS.

July 4, 1933. E. T. KNITTER HOT STAMP PRINTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 8,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet IN V EN TOR. EL MER T /V/v/Tz'E/a.

s C0. A TTORNEYS.

i 10ual may be quickly effected. 1 along line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Patented Juli 4,1933 y d 1,916,5751

'UtllIvTpl-Dv STATES PATENT. OFFICE' f Application led September 8,1930. Serial No. 480,560.

The present invention relates to improvethe machine taken along line l-lof Fig-v ments in a card stamping press, and its prin- `ure 2; v Y cipalobject is to provide a machine in which Figure '2 shows atop plan viewof the *playing cards can be initialed in goldv or machine; Y y 5colored letters in continuous operation. s Figure 3V a vertical sectionVtaken'along 5" It is particularly proposed in the present line 3 3 ofFigure 2; Y invention to provide a -stampingarrange Figure 4 a frontview ofthe lower porment in which various combinations of lettion of thedevice; Y ters representing the initials of an individ- F igurev 5 asectional detailr view taken 6 x More particularly it is proposed to usefor Figure 6 -a perspective detail view of a' this purpose a pluralityof. discs mounted frame used for preventing buckling of the coaXiallyand having characters formed in cards; Y the peripheries thereof, and toprovide means Figure Z an enlarged detail view of'a 15 'for aligning thecharacters of the different gate used in connection with the original@`discs in desired combinations. card enclosure, and Y It is furtherproposed inthe present in- Figure S a detail view of a modified `formvention to provide an improved card feeding of stamping device. y Y.vmeans in which the cards are successively Vhile I have shown only thepreferred 20 'removed from a stack into the stamping deform of myinvention, I wish to have it unvice in timed relationA to the stampingoperderstoodv thaty various changes or modificaations, and in such amanner that the indi-v tions may be made-within the scope of the y`vidual cards are firmlyA guided and held claims hereto attached withoutdeparting against buckling while at the same timel care from the spiritofthe Iinvention. r

5 is'taken' that only one card at a time may be My machine consists ofthe following prin- 7"` fed into the stamping device. It is lfurthercipal parts, a stamping device, means for proposed in the presentinvention to profeeding individual playing cards thereinto vide suitable-means for heating the stamping and means for y'feeding the ribbon ofpaper device so -as to allow gold or other colors to leaf inintermittent motion. be imprinted on the cards from a ribbon of In itsstructural features my machine com-` 80 A paper leaf, anfarticleprocurable in the marprises a frame l, which supports a bed plate ket atthepresent-time. 2, and the latter has two walls 3 extending v Itisfurther proposed to provide a machine upwardly from one corner sectionthereof,

r in which intermittent motion is imparted to these walls being formedwith tapered grooves 8V 3" the paper leaf so that the same is advancedas at 4: and being adapted to slidably receive between the stampingoperations while it is a plate, 5, which carries the vstamping mechaheldstill during the stamping operation. nism.

It is further proposed inthe present in- The plate 5 has a shaft 6extending forvention to combine all the elements herein wardlytherefrom, a reduced end 7 of this ,4 before mentioned into a compactunit, and shaft passing through the plate and being to so arrange thedifferent parts that theyl fastened by means of a nut 8. The shaft hasbecome operative at the proper times, and a plurality of discs 9 mountedthereon and that any chance oferror is eliminated. each disc ispreferably made polygonal and d Further objects and advantages of myinhas characters imprinted 'on the peripheral vention will appear as thespecification prof surface, the number of characters preferably ceeds. Ycorresponding to the number of letters in the l The preferred form of myinvention is alphabet so that by adjustment of the three illustrated inthe `accompanying drawings, discs shown in the present case, relative toinwhich one another, any desired combination of im,

5 Figure l shows a vertioalsection through three' letters may beestablished. Each of the three discs is formed with an annular series ofperforations 10 and these perforations are arranged in such a mannerthat when three letters on the three discs are brought into properalignment the perforations of the three discs will also be aligned sothat the three discs may be firmly held in adjustedv positionrelative toone another by means of a pin 11, mar e to pass through threeregistering perforations. rll'lie pin 11 is provided with a handle 12for facilitating its manipulation.

For the stamping operation it is necessary that a desired combination ofletters be presented downwardly and to insure correct position of thethree discs relative to the plate 5 the latter is formed with a singleperforation 13 directly opposite the lowerniost set of perforations inthe three discs so that when the discs ai'ein proper position for astamping operation the pin l1 holding the three discs in proper ielationmay be pushed on further into the perforation 13 and thereby'properlypositions the three discs relative to the plate 5. The' iearmost disk 9has a heating.

element 14 supported near its rear face, the heating element beingconnected to a suitable source of electrical power by means of the wires15.

Itwill be noted that the adjusting means for the discs thus fardescribed allows the latter to move axially on the shaft 6, and forholding` the discs after they have been adjusted to the desired positionagainst axial movement l provide a plurality of set screws 16 which arethreaded through the plate 5 and bear against the rear face of the reardisc or the heating element respectively, and a second set of set screws17 passing through a plate 13 fastened to the front end of the shaft andbearing against the front face of the front Idisc. lt will be readilyseen 'that by manipulation of the set screws the discs may be moved onthe shaft 6 into any position desired. -V

rFor imparting vertical reciproaatiiig niotion to the plate 5 l use thefollowing mecha.- nism:

A shaft 19 is supported transversely in 'the frame 1 and is connectedthrough a pulley 2O with a suitable source of power. A. fly-wheel 21 isprovided for insuring smoothness of operation. A second shaft 22 issupported in the frame in parallel relation to the first shaft andcarries an idler gear 23 which meshes with'a pinion 24 on the firstshaft and with a large gear 25 on a third shaft 26 passing transverselythrough the frame 1 so that rotary motion is transmitted from the shaft19 through the idler gear 23 to the large gear v25 and its shaft 26. Thelatter carries an eccentric 27 which operates the plate 5 through aconnecting link 23 and cross head 29 operatively connected to the plate5 through two rods 30,with freedom of adjustment through nuts 31. Itwill be seen that in this manner when the shaft 26 is rotated the plate5 with its stamping mechanism yis reciprocated between its guide walls3.

'liie card feeding device may be described as follows: v

A. deck of cards7 indicated at 32, may be confined between the fouruprights 33, 34, 35 andl 36, forming a rectangle correspondingsubstantially tothe size ofthe cards. The upright 33 is formed with-aslotted horizontal extension 3T which is held to the bed kplate by meansof a screw 38 passing through the slot so that the upright 33 may beadjusted to allow for dilferent lengths of cards. The upright 36 risesfrom the left end of a guide bar 39 disposed in a groove 40 extendingfrom left to right throughout the bed plate. rllhis guide bi r is heldin place at the eXtreme right end by means of a. screw 41 and in anintermediate section by tlieupright 34 previously referred to. rllieupright 35 rises from the left end of a second guide bar 42 runningparallel to the guide bar 39 and along the front edge of the bed.'Thisguide bar is held to the bed by means of two screws 43 passingthrough transverse slots 44l in the guide bar so as to allow the latterto be slightly adjusted for different widths of cards. ilhe upright 34extends over the entire bed plate from front to rear and rests on thetwo guide bars 39 and 42 for holding the latter in place. lt is securedto the bed plate'by one of the screws 43 and a second screw 45.V

For allowing the lowerinost card tolbe pushed from the deck toward thestamping device the upright 34 is slightly spaced from the bed plate.rFor adjusting the space to a nicety to the exact thickness of a playingcard l provide an adjustable gate in the upright- 347 the gate beingillustrated in detail in Figure 7 and comprising a small block 46adapted for upward and downward motion in a recess 47 in the bottom ofthe upright 34. This block 46 is supported by two rods 43 extendingvertically through the upright with freedom of adjustment and'interconnected by means of a small plate 49 through which a screw 50threaded so as to beariipon the upper edge of the upright 34. A spring51'- urges the block 46 downwardvwhile the screw 50'liniits its downwardmotion toa desired adjustment. A lockniit 52 holds Vthe screw 50 inadjusted position. It willvbe seen thatin this manner the block 46 maybe adjusted to card and to prevent a second card from being projectedpast the upright 34.

As the card is projected through the open'- ing defined by the block 46and isr advanced between the two guide bars 39 and 42 which are spacedto correspond exactly to the width of the card, it enters under a springframe 53. illustrated in detail in Figure 6 and comprising two parallel,bars54, two' transverse give just sufficient clearance for Ya singlebars 55 overlying the samel in spaced relation and extending 'beyond thesame, and a fifth bar 57v extending intov the rectangle from one kof thebars 55 soas to lie'in the plane of the two bars 54. rThis rectangularframe is supported on two guide bars 39 and 42 so that the extensions ofthe two Lbars 55 lie on the guide bars while the three bars 54 and 57lie between the guide bars,"leav" ing sufficient space between the saineand the y bed plate toallow a card to pass underneath the frame whilepreventing a` second card from passing at the same time, and alsoholding the card perfectly straight and preventing any buckling. Theframe 53 is Vfastened to the two guide bars 39 and 42 by'nieansof screws58 and springs 59 bearing on the-extensions of the bars 55 so that theframe is capable of slight upward yielding andexerts springs pressure onthe card passing underneath. Y Y f For advancing the bottom card I use apair-of pushers 60 rising through a pair of slots 6l which extendthrough the bed plate from left yto right to a point substantially inline with' the inner eiidof the bar` 57-0f the frame 53, the ends of theslots 6l allowing the pushers to advance the card directly into printingposition. The two pushers are supported on 'a crossy member 62 which isrslidable on a pair of rods 63 supported under- I neath the bed plate,and the cross member 62 is reciprocated by means of a connectinglinkl 64and an arm 65 fixed to the shaft 22 which latter receives rocking motionfrom the shaft 26 throughthe arrangement shown in Figure 4 including anarm 66 fixed to the shaft 22, and a link 67 connecting the free endofthe arm 66 with a pin 68 projecting eccentrically 'from av disc 69mounted onl the shaft 26. y

It will be seen that in this manner the shaft 26 through 'the link 67causes the shaft 22 to rock back and forth which rocking nio-A tioncauses the arm and the connecting link '64 to reciprocate the cross bar62 on the rods 63, thereby causing the pusheis to move back'y andforthin the slots 6l.

For imprinting the characters on the cards I use a ribbon of paper leaf,a product well known in the market and used at the present time forimprinting gold letters on books and for similar purposes. Thus far ithas been necessary to print inonograms on" cards by following theconventional printtop of the discs. through the three perforations.correspondmachine I arrange a spool 7 0 of this ribbon on a threadedrod 7l supported in frontof the machine, the spool being held on the rodonv one side by a nut 72 and on the other side by a spring73 and a nut74, tliespring tend-Y ing to place the spool under tension so that itwill not revolve too readily. From this' spool the ribbon is guided overthe bed 'plaie' and under thestamping device and betweoz'i ythe guides 75/ and is received rearwardly of l the bed plate between two rollers 75and 76 the former being a large roller made of fairly soft rubber. andthe latter being preferably ametal roller which is made to press theribbon .against the rubber roller.

latter are pivoted on a shaft'78 running alongside the'rear edge of thebed plate and are acted on by the springs 784 for urging the'roller 76upon the'roller 75..

Intermittent movement is imparted to the roller 75through a rack bar 79forming part of a slotted frame 8O adapted to straddle the shaftSl onwhich the roller 75 is supported,v

the rack bar actuating a pinion 82 loose on the shaft-8l and the piniontransmitting ino-y tioii in one direction through ratchet 83 and a pa'wl84 to a disc 85 fixed on the shaft 8l.

a .manner that an intermediate portion of 'the link 86lieson aneccentric pin 88 extending from a disc 89 fixed to the shaft 26. It willbe seen that in this mannerv when the shaft 26 'revolves the pin 88causes the connecting link 86 to rise and fall which motion istransmitted to the frame 8O and trie rack 79 through a link 9G. 'i '1,

vF or adjustii'igthe length of stroke of the rack rod 79 I suspend theextreme end of the link from a rod 9i which' latter passes a smallextension 92 of the bedL plate i.. fthioug.l

and has a collar 93 above the extension 92 -which collarmaybe adjustedby means of a set screw v94. This collar limits the downvward motion ofthe link vand thereby the length of its upward stroke. A spring 95bearing on a second collar 96 tendsto urge the link 86 downward so as'toremain in contact with the eccentric pin 88 within the limits set by thecollar 93.

The operationof my machine will beun-` derstood from the ,foregoingdescription'.

'Assuming that the 4three initials ABC are vto be stamped on the cards,the operator i'ii'st Apulls out the pin l fronithe discs and loosens oneof the set screws i7 so that the discs are now freely movable relatiif'elto one an-v He then brings the threellettei's ABC. on thethree discs inthe desired alignment,

preferably watching the discs from above other.

so thatthe three letters are exposed atthe The metal e roller 7G issupported in twolevers 77 which Y The frame 8() is reciprocated bymeansv of a link 8,6 ruiming alongside the rear end of they frameandpivotedl to the pin 87 in such He then inserts his pinl does so bymanipulating the set screws 16 and 17.

A stack of cards is placed between the uprights 33 and 34, 35 and 36,and the ribbon is guided over the bed plate so as to be re- 'i ceivedbetween the rollers 75 and 76 at which time the machine is ready foroperation. As the power is applied to the shaft 19, rotary motion istransmitted through the idler 23 to the large gear wheel 25 which causesthe plate 5 to reciprocate through the eccentric 27, the connecting link28 and the cross head 29.

In Figure 1 the stamping device is shown in its uppermost position,ready to come down for a printing operation. The pushers 60 are shown intheir most advanced position and have just delivered a card intoprinting position. The ribbon actuating link 86 and the rack 79 are intheir uppermost positions and have just advanced the Vribbon so as toexpose an unused piece thereof below the stamp. As the revolving motionof the shaft 26 is continued, the lstamping device descends and causesthe letters ABC to be stamped through the ribbon on the back of theplaying card. During this same part of the operation the pushers havebeen returned-to their most rearward position back of the stack of cards32, and the link 86 has returned to its lowermost position'causing therod 91 to descend and the ratchet 83 to .again advanced.

idle past the pawl 84. Asthe rotation is further continued thestampingdevice rises to its uppermost position while the pushers advance andpush the lowermost card into printing position and the link 86 causesthe rack bar 79 to rise whereby the ribbon is n The opening, throughwhich the lowermost card leaves, may be adjusted b-y means of the block46 and the operating mechanism shown in detail in Figure 7, and the cardis held, throughout its travel, to the bed plate 'by the spring tensionframe 53, the outer bars 511 extending throughout the length of the bedplate to the right and bearing on the card until it leaves the machine,while lthe intermediate bar 57 is shortened so as to clear the cardduring the stamping operation. Each card is projected over the edge ofthe machine after it has been stamped, by the new card placed in itsposition.

In the form shown in Figure 8 a conventional printing unit issubstituted for the discl arrangement thus far described. The

plate 5 is slidably mounted in the walls or posts 3 and has ashaft 6extending therefrom.. The printing unit 100 is suspended from this shaftand may be axially adjusted` by manipulation of the set screw 17extending through the plate 18 fastened'to the end of the shaft 6. Anvaligning hole 10. takes the place of the perforations l0 in fixing theprinting unit relative to the plate 5. The printing unit consists of ahanger 101 having a bottom flange 102'to which is fastened the typeframe 103, a heating unit 14 being interposed' between the flange andthe type frame. f

I claim:

1. A stamping unit having means for displaying characters thereon indesired combinations, a bed plate, means for reciprocating the stampingunit relativey to the bed plate, means for successively andintermittently feeding cards between the bed plate and the stamping unitand means for passing a ribbon over the cards transversely to thedirection of travel of the latter and in timed relation to the stampingoperations.

2. In combination, abcd plate, a pair of vertical guides, aplatereciprocable in said guides, a shaft extending from the plate, aplurality of stamping discs slidable on the shaft, set screws extendingfrom the plate V for spacing the discs Vfrom the latter, a crossmemberat the end of the shaft and set screws extending from the cross-membersoas toV bear on the discs from the opposite side for positionallyfixing the same.

3. In combination, a bed plate, a stamping unit movable relativethereto, means for guiding a ribbon between the bed plate-and thestamping unit comprising means for supporting a spool in front of thebed plate, a roller in the rear of the bed plate adapted to have theribbonl guided thereover, yielding means for pressing the ribbon intointimate `contact with the'roller and means for imparting intermittentrotary motion to the roller, including a pivoted arm, an eccentricadapted to periodica-ily raise the same, adjustable means for limitingthe downward movement of the armand means for translating the upwardmovements of the arm into rotary movement of the roller.

t. A stamping unit having means foi-,dis-V playing characters Vthereonin desired coinbinations, a bed plate, means for reciprocatingthestamping unit relative to the bed plate, means arrangcdin an extensionof the bed plate for successively and intermittently feedi ing thestamping unit relative -to the bed plate, means arranged invsubstantially the*v same vplane as the bed plate for successively andin tinied relation to the stamping opera-l tions. Signed aty SanFrancisco, in the county of vSan Franciscoancl State of California this28th day of August A. D. nineteen hundred and thirty. I ELMER KNITTER.

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